Nation/World Briefs

April 02, 2006

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFING BAGHDAD, IRAQ

U.S. helicopter crashes during patrol

A U.S. military helicopter crashed Saturday during a "combat air patrol" southwest of Baghdad, but the status of the crew was unknown, according to the American command. Meanwhile, pressure mounted on Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to step aside as the Shiite bloc's nominee for a second term, with some fellow Shiites urging him to withdraw to break the deadlock over a new government amid increasing sectarian violence. A U.S. statement said the helicopter went down about 5:30 p.m. during a combat patrol southwest of the capital but gave no further details, except to say that the fate of the crew was unknown. The statement did not identify the type of helicopter. INTERNATIONAL BRIEFING MOSCOW

Demonstration against draft draws hundreds

Hundreds protested in central Moscow on Saturday against the draft, calling for an end to mandatory military service and criticizing plans to cut deferments as the Russian armed forces began their spring conscription campaign. The demonstration, part of a nationwide campaign led by opposition politicians and anti-draft activists, drew about 300 people to Pushkin Square. Ekho Moskvy radio reported that similar protests were held in some 30 other Russian cities. NATIONAL BRIEFING NEW YORK

Immigrant rights march stretches for mile

Thousands of immigrant rights supporters formed a line stretching more than a mile long Saturday as they marched across the Brooklyn Bridge, waving flags from more than a dozen countries as they demonstrated against possible immigration reform in Congress. "We came to say that we're here," said George Criollo, who arrived in New York a decade ago from Cuenca, Ecuador. "We have to speak, legal or illegal. We have to speak about this issue." Criollo, who said his family was in the United States illegally, feared that legislation could lead to his deportation or jailing. In the House, legislation already has passed that would set penalties for anyone who knowingly assists or encourages illegal immigrants to remain in the country. Competing legislation under consideration in the Senate would give the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. a chance at citizenship.